After Okla. botched execution, ban death penalty in Wash.

In light of the botched execution in Oklahoma this past week, I would like to propose that we in Washington state become the next state to end the practice of state-sponsored executions [“Oklahoma inmate dies after execution is botched,” Nation & World, April 30].

There are multiple reasons to take this step now: this botched execution, the lack of serious crime deterrent that this practice has, the number of cases that have taken the lives of innocent men or women, and the number of death-row inmates exonerated by DNA evidence. If these reasons are not enough, perhaps realizing that we are in union with places like North Korea and Iran might shame us into saying no to state-sponsored killings.

If we need a slogan to rally around to get this done, why not “Light up the Colosseum.” Roman citizens lit up the Colosseum there in an expression of solidarity when a U.S. state abolishes the death penalty.

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